Getting my Susie on : DIY Terrarium

Browsing instagram this morning I noticed a post from Katrina Chambers (she's awesome peoples, follow her if you're not already) linking up her Tutorial Tuesday blog post and thought "Hmmm, I could do that" The terrarium that is.

Source: Katrinas_Tweets

As per usual for me, things work out easier said (or read for that matter) than done. I did a little more research, thank you Pinterest, and went about gathering all the things I needed. You would think in a place the size of Bunnings I'd find activated charcoal and moss but no and to be honest I couldn't be bothered hunting down a pet store selling fish tank stuff to get some. So if these plants die, I already blame my laziness.

Putting it all together wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be. Shoving your hard around inside a fishbowl and trying to strategically place and back fill the soil around the plants without getting potting mix everywhere was crazy. Overall I got the desired result and I'm pretty happy for a first attempt. I have to say that the photos don't do it the justice it deserves.

If you want to try something like this for yourself you'll need the following:

1. Glass bowl - the size and shapes are endless. Let your imagination run wild.
2. Small pebbles - for drainage in the bottom
3. Activated charcoal - really it's not necessary if you have an open terrarium, but if it's closed you will need it
4. Spaghnum moss - again not really necessary as it only really works as a filter for the water but if you've picked a bowl/jar based on being able to see the layers inside the moss makes it look that little bit fancier
5. Potting mix - just your standard potting mix. You don't need anything fancy.
6. Add your plants. The most common plants you see are succlents, but you can put practically any small plant in them. 
7. Decorative layer - really you can put whatever you like. I chose some white pebbles. I've seen moss, I've seen glass beads, I've seen plastic dinosaurs. You put what suits you.

I'm thinking I might have to make some more now. Maybe some kids themed ones to put in their rooms.

Getting my Susie on : Cake of Win

Anyone see that pic I posted on Fb of the ice cream cake that was just awesome?
If not, here's a refresher.

So because biting off more than I can chew is how I roll, I was determined I could and would make this cake. Next time I'm buying one of those Peters ones because by the time I'd bought the fifty billion Kit Kats and two 2lt tubs of icecream I'd spent double what an ice cream cake costs and that doesn't even include the time spend making the damn thing. See the crazy shit that Mummy guilt makes you do?

So this is how it went down.

 Two very happy little boys. Mummy guilt, all worthwhile.

Come on, you gotta admit, it did look all kinds of awesome.

Getting my Susie on : Finally we have artwork...of sorts

Going back well over 12 months ago, I'm guessing at around the time we moved into our new house I found a photo on Pinterest and I was obsessed.

Source:Project Home

Then while still surfing around Pinterest I came across this beautiful wall display at From Gardners to Bergers and loved her stories of how her gallery wall was personalised with photos, trinkets and places that meant something to them. So I ran with it.

So me being me, I had already had many plans in progress for what I wanted in these frames. Things I had thought of, downloaded or designed many months ago but I had to narrow them down.




To begin with I'm running with the following: A frame that was gifted with my favorite wedding photo in it, the letter B (for obvious reasons), a blue print of the double decker busses that my father in law used to build before they moved to Australia, the sheet music from our bridal waltz, the dates of birth of myself, the husband and the kids, a photo of the naval ship that my Grandfather served on during WWII and an old map of the Melbourne tramways of both my father in law and brother in law worked for them.

Now because I'm retentive, I can't just hang photos like a normal person. Everything has to be laid out, organised, arranged, all props and preps done. So firstly we have everything we need to get them up on on the wall.

The after about 15 minutes of moving things and changing my mind, here's the first idea I had.








Then I found another 2 frames. Then I remembered that I'd bought a clock specifically for the photo wall.

And here you have it, the final result. I can't wait to build on this work in progress, I already have ideas for new things to add to the collection.

And to give you an idea, this is taken standing at the front door so I have plenty room to add more family memories.

Getting my Susie on : How to make and Pinata and lose your friggin mind

So being the Pinterest-aholic that I am, I am constantly searching through billions of pins looking for ideas for my 40th when I came across this gem. I mean really, how cute do these numbers look? Then the lightbulb moment....OMG these would look so freakin fantastic in fluro colors to match the 80's theme.
Famous last words.

Photo credit

 So anyway, I clicked on through the links and followed the really easy to read and understand tutorial over at Oh Happy Day (which I have to mention is a simply amazing blog for any party planners/DIYers out there).  For anyone wanting to make your own, definitely have a look but let this be a warning. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR FRIGGIN MIND. It takes FOREVER and after the first few strips it becomes boring and tedious. Yes, it looks awesome but my advice, buy the damn things. But hey, you wanna try it, click on through right HERE.

Since I like to share, here's some pics of my journey into insanity:

So the 4 still needs a bit of a haircut, but how fabulous does it look?
I do really love how its turned out.
Only thing is, I still need to make the zero now. *cry

Getting my Susie on : Polka dot cake almost fail

As per my usual "go overboard, do all the things" party planning, I've left it to the last minute to trial out the cake for Miss 4's party. The plan was to make one of those gorgeous polka dot cakes that's all the rage. 

So being time poor, the trial went with one color and I didn't bother icing it. I just wanted to make sure it'd work and that the polka dots were still moist. Win and winning, well sorta. So here's what it's meant to look like. 

Source: easybake.net

 The beginning of cake balls

Yes, I will admit to being slightly alarmed as to how they looked

 Okay, so it rose a bit too much. Oops.

But overall I'm happy with the final result. Nothing that a few tweaks won't fix. 

Stay turned for the real thing on Sunday.

Getting my Susie on : A calm and cute Easter

Since being sick last year, my poor house has taken a very neglected back seat. All these dreams and ideas that I have planned for so long were put on the back burner but since starting to feel better (am touching wood while typing this) I'm wanting to do "stuff" again. So I eased myself into it by only putting together a  small Easter display.

Peter Rabbit print : Lovely Living printable 
 Blue glass bunny : Target

Grass bunny : Decor Plus 2012

Easter print : Homemade

Decorative eggs : Target

Glass apocathery jar : Target

Foam decorative eggs : Random $2 store

Plant pot with grass : Ikea